[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 3598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1559]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Paiute Cutthroat Trout 
(Oncorhynchus clarki seleniris)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'') announces the 
availability of the Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Paiute 
Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki seleniris) for public review. This 
draft plan includes specific recovery criteria and measures to be taken 
in order to delist the Paiute cutthroat trout.

DATES: Comments on the draft revised recovery plan must be received on 
or before March 26, 2004, to receive our consideration.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft revised recovery plan are available for 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
following location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Suite 234, Reno, Nevada 
(telephone (775) 861-6300). Requests for copies of the draft revised 
recovery plan and written comments and materials regarding this plan 
should be addressed to Robert D. Williams, Field Supervisor, at the 
above Reno address. An electronic copy of the draft revised recovery 
plan is also available at: http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chad Mellison, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above Reno address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants is a 
primary goal of our endangered species program and the Endangered 
Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means improvement 
of the status of listed species to the point at which listing is no 
longer appropriate under the criteria set out in section 4(a)(1) of the 
Act. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for the 
conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or 
delisting listed species, and estimate time and cost for implementing 
the measures needed for recovery.
    The Act requires the development of recovery plans for listed 
species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a 
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act requires that public notice 
and an opportunity for public review and comment be provided during 
recovery plan development. We will consider all information presented 
during the public comment period prior to approval of each new or 
revised recovery plan. Comments may result in changes to the plan. 
Comments regarding recovery plan implementation will be forwarded to 
appropriate Federal or other entities so that they can take these 
comments into account during the course of implementing recovery 
actions. Individual responses to comments will not be provided.
    The Paiute cutthroat trout is native to Silver King Creek in the 
East Fork Carson River drainage of east-central California, Humboldt-
Toiyabe National Forest, Alpine County, California. Hybridization with 
non-native salmonids is the primary threat to the species.
    The original recovery plan for the Paiute cutthroat trout was 
published in 1985. The objectives of the 1985 recovery plan were to 
reestablish a pure population of Paiute cutthroat trout in Silver King 
Creek above Llewellyn Falls, and secure and maintain the integrity of 
the occupied habitats in Silver King Creek, North Fork Cottonwood 
Creek, and Stairway Creek, all which occur outside of the presumed 
historic habitat. This revised plan incorporates recent research data 
and addresses the species' current status, threats, distribution, and 
recovery needs. It also addresses the effects of recovery actions on 
the mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) and the Yosemite toad 
(Bufo canorus), which occur within the Silver King Creek drainage as 
well as in the vicinity of the out-of-basin population sites. This plan 
identifies actions to maintain ecosystem integrity as well as recover 
the listed species.
    The draft revised recovery plan includes conservation measures 
designed to ensure that self-sustaining populations of Paiute cutthroat 
trout will once again occupy its historic range. Specific recovery 
actions focus on removing non-native salmonids and establishing a 
viable population in its historic range. The plan also identifies the 
need to protect pure populations which exist outside of the historic 
range. The ultimate goal of this plan is to delist the Paiute cutthroat 
trout by implementing a variety of measures to attain the following 
criteria: (1) All non-native salmonids are removed in Silver King Creek 
and its tributaries downstream of Llewellyn Falls to fish barriers in 
Silver King Canyon; (2) a viable population of Paiute cutthroat trout 
occupies all historic habitat in Silver King Creek and its tributaries 
downstream of Llewellyn Falls to fish barriers in Silver King Canyon; 
(3) Paiute cutthroat trout habitat is maintained in all occupied 
streams; (4) the refuge populations in Corral and Coyote Creeks, Silver 
King Creek and tributaries above Llewellyn Falls, as well as out-of-
basin populations are maintained as refugia and are secured from the 
introduction of other salmonid species; and (5) develop a long-term 
conservation plan and conservation agreement which will be the guiding 
management documents once Paiute cutthroat trout are delisted.

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit written comments on the draft revised recovery plan 
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be 
considered in developing a final revised recovery plan.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: November 24, 2003.
Steve Thompson,
Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Region 1, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-1559 Filed 1-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P